London, UK: Rally and March Held to Protest the Chinese Communist Regime’s 26-Year-Long Persecution (Part 1)

(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners held a rally and march in London on July 19, 2025, to protest the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) 26-year-long persecution and its transnational repression.

March in central London

The activities consisted of a rally and two marches. The first march started at noon outside the Chinese Embassy. Led by the European Tian Guo Marching Band, the march passed through London’s bustling Oxford Street, Piccadilly Circus, Chinatown, and the north bank of the River Thames, and arrived at Parliament Square at 1:30 p.m.

It rained that morning, but the Tain Guo Marching Band’s music seemed to dispel the haze and lighten people’s moods. Many residents and tourists stopped to watch the march and took photos.

Practitioners held a press release and rally in Parliament Square to protest the CCP’s atrocities.

Practitioners held a press release and rally on Parliament Square.

A practitioner read letters from elected officials.

The Minister for the Indo-Pacific at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office sent a letter before the event, on behalf of the British Prime Minister and several members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, expressing their support for Falun Gong, and wishing the event success.

Calling on the UK Government to Pass Legislation Countering the Persecution

Representative Caroline of the UK Falun Dafa Association addressed the rally.

Representative Caroline of the UK Falun Dafa Association pointed out in her speech that the CCP’s persecution is a crime against humanity. Multiple international human rights experts stated that the persecution reached the level of genocide.

She said that recently, documents leaked from the CCP revealed that it was also systematically expanding the persecution overseas. She said that such a regime does not respect the rule of law, human rights, or even life, which is shown clearly in the persecution of millions of peaceful citizens in China over the past 26 years.

“We commend the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the Falun Gong Protection Act in May this year,” she said. “This bill counters the CCP’s atrocities of live organ harvesting and encourages international cooperation to expose and counter the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong through sanctions and visa restrictions.

“We also call on the British government to take action immediately to enact similar legislation.”

Justice Will Prevail Over Evil

John Dee, chair of the European Friends of Falun Gong, spoke at the rally.

John Dee, chair of the European Friends of Falun Gong, said, “Today, as the persecution that has lasted for 26 years has not yet ended, we see that the CCP still regards the eradication of Falun Gong as its important goal. In recent months, a large number of practitioners who had not been arrested for many years have been arrested again on a large scale. Public security organs across China are still closely monitoring, harassing, and even torturing and interrogating these people who persist in their belief.

“However, even in the face of such high pressure, Falun Gong practitioners remain steadfast. Their beliefs have not been crushed, and their goodwill has not been extinguished. They continue to demonstrate the power of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance to the world in a tenacious and peaceful manner. This fact clearly indicates that justice will eventually prevail over evil, and the end of this persecution is not far away.”

The CCP’s Transnational Repression

During the rally, Falun Gong practitioner Ms. Fu described her experience and pointed out that the CCP’s persecution extends overseas.

She was attacked by a Chinese man while she was practicing Falun Gong exercises alone near the back entrance of the British Museum on August 20, 2018. She fell unconscious on the spot, and suffered fractures of the lumbar and cervical vertebrae. Her spinal nerves were also injured. The police quickly arrested the attacker, who knelt down in panic and begged for mercy. Ms. Fu insisted on following the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, chose to forgive him, and did not file a lawsuit.

She said, “Seven years have passed, and I am telling this story again. The attacker and I had never met, but his motive was obviously related to my practice of Falun Gong. This is the result of the CCP’s long-term smearing and inciting hatred, and it is also a continuation of its transnational persecution.

“My experience is just the tip of the iceberg. Thousands of Falun Gong practitioners in China are still suffering from the cruel persecution. I call on the British government and kind people to jointly stop this suppression of faith, and I also hope that Chinese practitioners will be able to return to their homeland one day.”

The second march began at around 4 p.m. By this time, the weather had cleared. The parade started from Parliament Square, passed by Big Ben and the Parliament Building, and wound along the north bank of the River Thames, finally arriving at St. Martin’s Square.

Practitioners passed by Big Ben.

Practitioners walked along the north bank of the River Thames.

Public Support

Many people stopped to watch along the route, and throughout the event, took photos, accepted flyers, and expressed their support for Falun Gong practitioners.

A group of college students from China were drawn by the march, and they seemed full of surprise and curiosity. They took photos and whispered to each other. One of the girls’ eyes lit up and she excitedly shouted, “It’s Falun Gong!”

A young couple from China watched the march intently. They said that it was completely different from what they were told about Falun Gong in China. When a practitioner handed them a flyer, the man took it and said seriously, “We must take a good look at it to understand it clearly after going back.”

A man from Hong Kong said, “I especially support Falun Gong. You are doing very well.”

A young Chinese man said the march was peaceful and serene, “What touched me most were the practitioners dressed in white [holding portraits of Falun Gong practitioners who were tortured to death by the CCP].” His tone was filled with anger and sadness.

A man who heard the Tian Guo Marching Band play said, “This kind of music is not just a melody, but a kind of energy—a good medicine that can heal people’s hearts.”

The event spanned over two days. On Sunday, the Tian Guo Marching Band and British Falun Gong practitioners held another march and event to tell people about the persecution.

(To be continued)